US general visits Kenya amid plans to withdraw troops from Somalia

NAIROBI, Kenya - A top US army officer visited Kenya on Tuesday, his second trip to Nairobi in as many months, amid plans by Washington to withdraw close to 700 servicemen who are helping in the fight against Al-Shabaab in Somalia, a country that is struggling with instability due to frequent inter-clan conflicts, tough internal politics and rising insurgency.

General Stephen Townsend, who is the head of the US Africa Command, held a meeting with Kenya's Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Robert Kibochi and Defense Secretary Monica Juma at Ulinzi House, the headquarters of KDF and the Ministry of Defense just near State House.

The two teams discussed strengthening military ties between Washington and Nairobi besides sharing mutual cooperation and interests. The US has been working closely with Kenya due to the stability of the East Africa nation and the strategic location in the fight against terrorism.

"KDF and US Africa Command today held a joint meeting to strengthen military ties between the two Forces," KDF said. "CDF Gen Robert Kibochi and US AFRICOM Comd Gen Stephen Townsend were joined by CS Defence_Kenya Dr. Monica Juma and US Amb Kenya H.E. Kyle McCarter during the bilateral talks."

The US army has a Naval Base in Manda, Lamu with about 200 servicemen who work closely with the KDF. In January, they came under attack from Al-Shabaab militants in a raid that left three US citizens dead and several others injured, leading to the deployment of more forces to the region.

After the attack, Gen. Townsend visited both Kenya and Somalia where he pledged commitment in the fight against the Al-Qaida linked group. In Somalia, he asked the Federal Government to work closely with all partners for the sake of defeating the militants, who are keen to overthrow the fragile UN-backed Somalia administration.

His trip to Kenya comes amid the deteriorating relationship between Kenya and Somalia and plans by the US to withdraw troops from the Horn of Africa nation. The Department of Defense confirmed a directive by outgoing President Donald Trump to have the troops withdrawn by mid-January next year.

The move has been opposed by Somalia which insists that such plans would erode gains made in the fight against Al-Shabaab. According to DoD, the troops will be deployed "elsewhere" in East Africa, with Kenya being the likely destination given its strategic location within the region.

Kenya has close to 3,500 troops in Somalia who are mainly stationed in Jubaland and are associated with a number of victories against the militants. KDF troops are also set to leave Somalia by the end of 2021 upon full implementation of the Somali Transition Plan [STP].

GAROWE ONLINE